Anyone feeling the holiday gift-buying panic yet? We sort of suffered through some high-tension shopping this past weekend, but if we were in Brooklyn, perhaps we would have found some peace. Steve Powers, 2x Juxtapoz cover artist, just opened a new storefront, ESPO's Creative Outlet. Residing at 4th Ave and Bergen St, in the Boerum Hill section of Brooklyn, the shop has a range of in-store only prints, along with ESPO-related books, catalogs, ephemera and a raincoat or two.

May 2012 cover artist, Steve "ESPO" Powers (and December 2007 for that matter, as well as in Johannesburg with Jux at the moment) just had his film, A Love Letter For You, released on iTunes. Directed by Juxtapoz contributing editor, Joey Garfield, the film is a narrative based around Powers as he returns to his hometown of Philadelphia to paint on 50 rooftops along the market train line.

After a sleepless 15 hour flight, we anxiously arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa for the I ART JOBURG project presented by adidas Originals and curated by /ANDPEOPLE. This month long project has brought five international and local artists to create large-scale public murals in the bustling streets surrounding the Maboneng Precinct in Johannesburg’s central art district.

We had the pleasure to be visit the opening of the most recent exhibition of Stephen Powers, aka ESPO, at the Joshua Line Gallery in NYC. A Word is Worth a Thousand Pictures is a wonderful translation of Powers' love of sign-painting, images, and colors. The pieces are made of enamel on aluminum with type, graphics and bright pigments, where Powers constructs a unique personal language that speaks to all.

After seven years since 2x Juxtapoz cover artist Stephen Powers’ last solo exhibition in New York, Joshua Liner Gallery is pleased to present A Word is Worth a Thousand Pictures. In this new exhibition series, the prolific artist will present a panoramic assemblage of paintings that will occupy the entire breadth of the gallery. A Word is Worth a Thousand Pictures will consist of a multitude of enamel on aluminum paintings, ranging from 10-x-8 inches to 8-x-16 feet. The show opens tonight, September 6, 2012.

Because we are such admires of Steven Powers’ work in general, we thought we would share this little saying the artist painted a while back. “Everything is Shit...Except your love.” For one of us, this sentiment hits home, right now. It has been one of those months.

With the task of painting a 330-foot-long grandstand that represents the overall theme of this years Roskilde Music Festival, December 2007 and May 2012 cover artist Steven Powers discusses his process and challenges for this particular project. Powers also speaks on the difference of connecting with people being an artist opposed to being a musician.

A new video has been released of the quick tongue and prolific artist, Steven Powers, aka Espo, talking about his art at the PSFK Conference NYC. Powers discusses his recent public and private art projects, along with explaining his one-a-day art “Daily Metaltation” pieces. As usual, this talk is witty and humorous. Powers is one of our cover artists to the current May 2012 printed Juxtapoz.

For Steve Powers, the mandate of Public Art is entrenched in public service. I hope his mission continues and catches on with others in the field. Beyond offering an inspiring uppercut of double entendre’d messaging, Powers offers a free sign making service to the surrounding neighborhood during his stay. In this way he can give back to the local shops in need of some exterior surface painting outreach. After all, they are the ones permanently hosting the event whether they like Powers’ work or not. That way, he leaves an impression when he leaves an impression.

The May 2012 issue of Juxtapoz is our special examination on the state of Public Art in 2012. We have spent over a year discussing the topic of community sevice and Public Art programs with festival organizers, politicians in the US and abroad, and artists about their experiences developing Public Art initiatives and bodies of work, and how their experiences can be blueprints for other artists and cities to follow to better communities around the world. This issue is what we learned. Preview after the jump . . .